Makeup is so much fun to experiment with, and even better when you have a pro applying it! And so I had a blast trying out the Rocky Horror Picture Show inspired collection by MAC Cosmetics with celebrity makeup artist and MAC Cosmetics Senior Artist John Stapleton. He gave me the “Magenta” look which consisted of a sultry smoky eye, a gorgeous lip stain and his amazing handiwork. The result was totally wearable and very sexy. And here is how he did it. Would you rock this look?
RCR: So tell me a little bit about the look that I got.
JS: You have on the Magenta. So, to me, the hottest one in the troupe. We did the smokey eye, so we used one of the grease paint sticks in the black and we started with just that at the root of the lashes. And then blended that out with a soft brush. A firm but soft brush, just to get a more smokey starter. I love it because the grease paint sticks are a really easy way to start a smoky eye. You can throw it in your purse, add it to your makeup during the day to get a quick nighttime look, buff it out with your fingertip and be on your way. Then we used a combination of the eye shadows. On the eyelid on top, I just used graphic style, which is a smoky gray that’s on top. And just into the crease with a firm brush, we used blackberry, and then used a soft brush to blend it out.
RCR: Okay. And what about the inside of the eye?
JS: Inside the eye is the pencil, Black Black. It’s part of our chromagraphic pencils, which are usually used for body painting. They’re a little bit stronger of colors, really intense to line inside the eye. And we used just a pop of the lighter color here, which is called Rocky, a crystal-y, dusty cloud gray into the inner tear ducts. Then on the face we contoured with the dual compact. It’s Bone Beige, of course. So these are actually products that are carried at our pro location. We have a series of products called sculpt and shape and it’s the perfect contour because it’s not. I find that people usually contour their cheek bones with warmer bronzers and it’s better to use colors that are taupe-y that look more like a shadow. So we used the Bone Beige under the cheekbone and the Emphasize just on the top of the cheekbone to give a little highlight and make the cheekbone pop. And then we used Frankfurter lipstick, but we applied it like a stain, so we pressed it on. We used the Vino pencil to line the lips. We blended everything in really well also, so it just left like a berry stain on the lip—matte, soft. Filled in the brows with a little lingering brow pencil. I think good framing is always nice. And then some black mascara.
My dress: Loyal Hana
RCR: Absolutely. It’s a soft, smoky kind of sultry look.
JS: Yeah! For the visuals on the face chart, and of course for the movie, it’s much more theatrical and strong. It doesn’t have to be done that full-on. You can always do a softer version of it. If you did this eye then threw on the gold top hat, you could have an instant costume, to be a member of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. So if you’re looking for a last minute costume, it’s basically, the Robert Palmer girl eye make up and lip and throw the gold top hat on and your Magenta…
RCR: Right, exactly!
JS: It’s its own costume.
RCR: It is, it is. And fun! You can make it your own, which is cool.
JS: Of course! You can even, if you wanted to, put a little gloss on the lip if you wanted to change it up and make it more interesting for a nighttime look.
Stay tuned for more of my interview with John in which we talk Fall/Winter makeup tips and what three things every woman should have in her makeup bag. Coming soon!
